Self-closing stopper for bottles



(No Model.)

D. BERRY. SELF CLOSING STOPPER FOR BOTTLES.

I J //lllllllllllrlllll Patented J an. 3,

Inven 'ccr'rr Witnesses and open it.

UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID BERRY, 0E BOLINAS, CALIFORNIA.

SELF-CLOSING STOPPER FOR BOTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,819, dated January 3, 1882.

Application filed October 31, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID BERRY, of 130- linas, countyof Marin, State of California, have invented a Self-Closing Stopper for Bottles; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a novel means for closing thevmouths of bottles without the use of corks or other similar stoppers; and it consists in the employment of a supplemental cap, which may be fitted to the mouth or neck of any bottle by suitable means, and is provided with transversely-moving slides, which close across the mouth and are operated by closingsprings, and levers by which they may be opened, as will he more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a view of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections. Fig. 4 shows its application.

A is a bottle of any ordinary construction which it may be desired to close. Upon the neck of this bottle is fixed a sleeve, B, having screw-threads upon the outside to receive the cap 0. The sleeve B may be slit open upon one side, or so arranged that it can be slipped down over the enlarged head D near the top of the bottle-neck, after which it may be closed around the neck, and this head will keep it from slipping off. The cap 0 has screw-threads within it to fit upon the sleeve B, and it may be screwed down until it fits closely upon the top of the bottle-neck, having a washer around itsedge toforma tightjoint and prevent leakage. This cap may be made in two parts, the,

upper one screwingdown upon the lower one, so that it may be removed to give access to the closing valves or plates. 'Within the upper part of the cap 0 are two horizontally-sliding plates E, so constructed as to meet in the center andclose the opening or to separate These plates close over the mouth of the bottle and have their lower surfaces so packed as to form a tight joint with the sur face upon which they shde, while their meeting edges are also made to fit closely for the same purpose. Stems F project through the sides of the cap from the rear of these plates, and spiral springs G surround them and by their action force the plates together to close the opening. Outside the cap are two leverarms, H, which are hinged to it and extend down beside it to a convenient point, so that when the bottle is grasped the lower end of these levers may be pressed against the sides of the cap or the neck of the bottle. The upper ends of these levers are connected with the outer ends of the stems F, so that when the lower ends are pressed inward against the sides of the bottles the slides will be withdrawn, leaving the mouth open for the escape of the contents, and when they are released the springs cause them to close at once. This provides a convenient means for closing the mouths of bottles without the use of any ordinary stopper.

The device may be casily placed upon any bottle or transferred from one bottle to another.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The opensided screw-threaded sleeve B, fitted to clasp the neck of a bottle below the projecting head D, in combination with the screw-cap (3, having the transversely-sliding plates E, stems F, and operating-levers H, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

, 2. The screw-threaded detachable sleeve 13 and the cap 0, fitted thereto, in combination with the transversely-sh(ling plates E, with their stems F and levers H, and the returningsprings G,all combined to operate substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

DAVID BERRY.

Witnesses:

FRANK A. BROOKS,

R. K. EVANS. 

